Nigeria take on world and European Champions Spain in their final group B match
Spain will come into this tournament as the favorite, having won the last two Euro tournaments and the 2010 World Cup. Led by world-class talents such as Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique, the Spaniards are the most technically skilled team in the world and are certain to be feared.
Spain will come into this tournament as the favorite, having won the last two Euro tournaments and the 2010 World Cup. Led by world-class talents such as Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique, the Spaniards are the most technically skilled team in the world and are certain to be feared.
Style and tactics
Stephen Keshi is a coach who employed width to win the 2013 African Nations Cup. In a game like this, the wings are likely to be clipped, as those out wide cannot be expected to see much of the ball when Spain are dominating possession. It is in Nigeria's nature to be attacking, but their best work will be needed in defence. The type of defending that let in Uruguay's Diego Forlan to score from the left-hand flank must be avoided. John Obi Mikel's goal in that game reflected a far less rigid role than that he plays for Chelsea.
Even in the midst of a 10-0 win, there were grounds for unhappiness in the Spanish ranks. They went in at half-time leading 4-0, but they had played poorly, and their possession percentage was well below the expected 90%. Credit here to Tahiti, and perhaps acknowledgement of the curious difficulty of facing a team of such a differing standard, but very little could be gleaned from that performance. Xavi and Andres Iniesta may continue to be rested here, but will be back for the semi-finals.
Players to watch
John Obi Mikel has never scored a Premier League goal for Chelsea, but it is forgotten he was signed back in 2006 as an all-action midfielder who presented a goal threat. Against Uruguay, the centre-circle specialist became a Nigerian Steven Gerrard and scored a well-taken goal too. A shop window to a different Mikel? Perhaps. Celtic's Efe Ambrose might be lucky to be in Keshi's selection as his defending has reminded of his absent-minded performance against Juventus. Brown Ideye, erratic against Uruguay, is likely to lead the line in the absence of Nnamdi Oduamadi.
Perhaps Vicente Del Bosque will mix and match his first-choice XI and that which played against Tahiti. It was very difficult to draw conclusions from the cake walk in Rio De Janeiro. Despite Villa and Torres' goal glut, perhaps Roberto Soldado will play. One goal against Uruguay is probably worth three or so against Tahiti. In the wake of the news about Carles Puyol's potentially career-ending knee problem, one area to work on is central defence. The partnership of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique is expected to return, but perhaps better than Raul Albiol is needed in reserve.